The contract lasts 10 years and has a base period of two years, with two option periods of four years each. When an agency wants a smart card solution, the five awardees can bid for the business.

The smart cards will support applications such as electronic signature, training certification, and e-commerce.

"The contract will provide our government partners with a wide range of smart card applications and functionality," said Sandra Bates, commissioner of GSA's Federal Technology Services.

"They will greatly enhance the security of government facilities and systems on a worldwide basis and have the potential of providing millions of federal employees with a smart card."

The program is a cooperative effort under GSA's leadership with a committee composed of representatives from the federal civilian, defense and intelligence communities.

Task orders issued under these contracts will allow the prime contractors a fair opportunity to bid on each agency's requirements. The contracts include provisions for firm fixed price, time and materials and labor-hour task orders.

All GSA regional offices and other federal agencies will be able to use the contracts.By Jennifer Freer, Staff Writer

May 22 - The U.S. General Services Administration on May 19 awarded its governmentwide Smart Access Common ID contract to five companies that will compete over a piece of the total $1.5 billion pie.

The contract lasts 10 years and has a base period of two years, with two option periods of four years each. When an agency wants a smart card solution, the five awardees can bid for the business.

The smart cards will support applications such as electronic signature, training certification, and e-commerce.

"The contract will provide our government partners with a wide range of smart card applications and functionality," said Sandra Bates, commissioner of GSA's Federal Technology Services.

"They will greatly enhance the security of government facilities and systems on a worldwide basis and have the potential of providing millions of federal employees with a smart card."

The program is a cooperative effort under GSA's leadership with a committee composed of representatives from the federal civilian, defense and intelligence communities.

Task orders issued under these contracts will allow the prime contractors a fair opportunity to bid on each agency's requirements. The contracts include provisions for firm fixed price, time and materials and labor-hour task orders.

All GSA regional offices and other federal agencies will be able to use the contracts.By Jennifer Freer, Staff Writer

May 22 - The U.S. General Services Administration on May 19 awarded its governmentwide Smart Access Common ID contract to five companies that will compete over a piece of the total $1.5 billion pie.

The contract lasts 10 years and has a base period of two years, with two option periods of four years each. When an agency wants a smart card solution, the five awardees can bid for the business.

The smart cards will support applications such as electronic signature, training certification, and e-commerce.

"The contract will provide our government partners with a wide range of smart card applications and functionality," said Sandra Bates, commissioner of GSA's Federal Technology Services.

"They will greatly enhance the security of government facilities and systems on a worldwide basis and have the potential of providing millions of federal employees with a smart card."

The program is a cooperative effort under GSA's leadership with a committee composed of representatives from the federal civilian, defense and intelligence communities.

Task orders issued under these contracts will allow the prime contractors a fair opportunity to bid on each agency's requirements. The contracts include provisions for firm fixed price, time and materials and labor-hour task orders.

All GSA regional offices and other federal agencies will be able to use the contracts.